Measures to increase sales in retail
Boost your sales as a retailer: These measures are especially promising.
Ein Händler in Jeanshemd, Kappe und Brille notiert konzentriert Ideen, während der unscharfe Arbeitsraum im Hintergrund Dynamik und unternehmerischen Fokus vermittelt. Das Bild steht auf der American Express website für Merchants für modernen Einzelhandel, der mit American Express auf Vertrauen, Zahlungsfreiheit und wachstumsorientierte Kundenerlebnisse setzt. Es visualisiert, wie Händlerinnen und Händler ihren Umsatz steigern, Premium-Kundinnen und -Kunden besser ansprechen und ihre Marke hochwertig, serviceorientiert und finanzstark positionieren.
Key takeaways
Increased sales in the Swiss retail sector are achievable through a customer-focused product assortment, targeted cross-selling, and a seamless shopping experience across in-store and online channels. Sales, margins, and inventory turnover should be analyzed to make profitable use of shelf space and create appropriate product combinations that lead to larger shopping baskets.
Mobile information, reservations, Click & Collect, and expert advice enhance convenience, visibility and customer loyalty. Reliable, comprehensive payment method acceptance – including American Express – prevents abandoned shopping carts and can unlock additional potential revenue, especially for higher-value transactions.
The Swiss retail sector on a growth trajectory
The Swiss retail sector is growing, but demand remains selective: Customers are comparing options more closely, expect convenient processes, and shop where the price, product range and service come together effectively. A single discount promotion may have a short-term impact. However, sales grow more sustainably when the price, product range, advice and convenience align for customers – in-store, online, and after the purchase.
Here’s how you, as a retailer, can benefit from this sales growth: According to the NIQ Market Monitor, sales in the Swiss retail sector from January through June 2026 were 2.6 percent higher than the previous year’s level. Online retail is experiencing particularly dynamic growth, having increased by approximately 11 percent to the end of June. Retailers with a compelling omnichannel strategy can thus tap into additional sales potential.
Consistent management of assortments in terms of customers and profitability
A bigger selection doesn’t automatically mean more sales. A product assortment that is too wide and unclear ties up capital, increases markdowns, and makes the purchasing decision more difficult. Retailers should therefore regularly review which items actually drive traffic, which ones increase the size of the shopping cart, and which generate sales but add little to the contribution margin.
An ABC analysis based on sales, margin and turnover rate is helpful, supplemented by the question of which products are purchased together. For example, if high-quality skincare products are frequently purchased alongside a specific accessory, prominently displaying the accessory or offering a curated set can increase the average sales slip value.
Items with a lower turnover rate do not necessarily have to be removed: They can be offered selectively online, to order, or seasonally. The key is to view shelf space as a scarce resource.
This precision is particularly important because customers continue to shop based on their needs. Although Swiss retail sales rose in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Federal Statistical Office, consumer sentiment in March 2026 stood at -43 points. In such an environment, a clear, relevant product assortment is more compelling than a wide, one-size-fits-all range.
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Increasing the average basket size – without being pushy
For brick-and-mortar retailers, the average sales slip value is often the most immediate lever. Instead of offering blanket discounts, retailers should make it easier for customers to make complementary purchases. This includes cross-selling right at the shelf, bundles with a credible price advantage, and tiered offers that can help cover needs for the coming weeks.
It is important that the added value remains clear. A sports store can pair running shoes with matching socks or a running analysis; a deli, for example, can offer a recipe card and a complementary beverage. At the checkout – such as in the checkout area – only low-priced, truly relevant impulse items are appropriate, not a hodgepodge of items.
Staff teams also play a key role here. A brief, open-ended question like "What would you like to use this for?" enables a personalized recommendation and comes across as helpful rather than pushy. To do this, teams need product knowledge, clear guidelines, and goals that not only focus on sales volume but also on customer satisfaction and return rates.
Viewing payment as a sales opportunity – including American Express
A purchase often falls through when the preferred payment method is unavailable or the payment process is complicated. Retailers should therefore regularly review their payment acceptance capabilities: Payments in cash, debit and credit cards, and digital wallets should function reliably at the checkout and in the online store.
Full card acceptance also includes American Express. Especially in segments with higher average transaction values – such as premium groceries, beauty, fashion, travel, restaurants, hotels, home furnishings, or gift items – accepting American Express can generate additional revenue. Swiss American Express customers typically spend 20 to 50 percent more than other credit card users.
The higher fee for card payments in some cases should not be viewed in isolation. What matters is the additional contribution margin: How many purchases wouldn’t take place without the card, how does the average sales slip value change, and how many new customers does the business reach?
Benefits for retailers as American Express acceptance partners
Combining your store and online presence into a single shopping experience
Customers expect information, availability and service to be consistent – both online and offline. If you rely solely on walk-in customers and your brick-and-mortar store, you’re missing out on reach. If you focus exclusively on online channels, you forgo the trust and service advantages of a physical store.
You don’t have to start with a complex online store right away. An up-to-date Google Business Profile – meaning an online presence in Google Search and on Google Maps – a product catalog page optimized for mobile devices, transparent opening times, and the option to inquire about or reserve products all lower the barriers to purchasing. Offering "Click & Collect" or local deliveries is also worth considering.
The physical location should offer added value that a package cannot provide: advice, try-ons, demonstrations, immediate availability, and, if applicable, occasional local events. This way, the store doesn’t become an expensive showroom, but a destination for experiences and service.
Relevant assortments, larger shopping carts, and a convenient shopping experience
In the Swiss retail sector, higher sales result from a relevant product assortment, larger shopping carts, and a consistently convenient shopping experience. If your online store is easy to find, the product availability and added value are quickly apparent, and you offer complementary products, you increase the likelihood that customers will return.
Comprehensive payment acceptance, including American Express, can attract additional high-spending customers, boost sales, and – provided the additional contribution margin exceeds the fees – contribute to profitability. Furthermore, expert advice from your staff can set you apart from competing businesses.
Frequently asked questions and answers
American Express can bring your business additional, often high-spending customers, higher transaction values, and a stronger position in the B2B segment.
Through appropriate upselling recommendations, thoughtfully curated bundles, relevant impulse items, and staff who provide personalized advice, retailers can increase the average cart value without coming across as pushy to customers.
Relevant metrics include sales, contribution margin, sales slip value, inventory turnover, conversion rate, and return rate.
